Deal Struck, Direction of Thought

Li Qing's gaze rested on the brand-new technique that had emerged after the Jade Tablet synthesized almost all of his cultivation methods.

A hint of strange contemplation appeared in his eyes.

"Humanity's Overview Technique. Every direction of cultivation for this technique is derived from my own self."

"It makes absolutely no use of any alien organs or the limbs of other humans."

"All essence and energy depend solely on myself. This is definitely a path deliberately chosen by the Jade Tablet."

"Its purpose must be to ensure I do not easily absorb external essence to use for the cultivation of my fundamental technique."

"Moreover, this technique seems imperfect; it can still incorporate more cultivation methods."

"But the items required to cultivate this technique are also very precious."

"Five different hundred-year-old spiritual herbs—finding them will not be so simple."

"I can go and ask about them tomorrow."

"Right, the items collected for the Black Water Art—I'm afraid I won't be able to use them."

"Should I simply strike a deal with Wang Kuohai?"

"See if he can help me collect these things."

"As much as possible, I still need more cultivation methods."

"These hundred-year-old spiritual herbs should be worth quite a bit of money; perhaps I can exchange them for more techniques at the Scripture Tower."

Various thoughts flashed through his mind, and in the blink of an eye, another night passed.

Early the next morning, he sought out Wang Kuohai.

At this moment, Wang Kuohai saw Li Qing approaching, and joy immediately appeared on his face.

"Mr. Qin, you have come."

Li Qing looked at Wang Kuohai and smiled slightly, "Brother Wang. I wonder if you have collected the things I asked you to help me find."

"Hahaha, Mr. Qin, I had people attend to your affairs the very first moment."

"Except for that Black Profound Ganoderma, which I didn't know what it was, everything else has been collected properly."

"It cost a total of one hundred taels of silver; here are the remaining nine hundred taels in silver notes."

As he spoke, he had already taken out the silver notes, placed them on the table, and handed them to Li Qing.

Hearing this, Li Qing smiled faintly.

He waved his hand slightly and said, "Would you like to cultivate, fellow Daoist?"

When Wang Kuohai heard this, his heart skipped a beat.

His face trembled slightly as he said, "Mr. Qin, are you willing to teach me?"

"We can make a deal."

"Help me collect these five types of hundred-year-old spiritual herbs."

"If you can collect them all, I will pass on a set of cultivation techniques to you."

"Once mastered, you will have at least one hundred to one hundred and fifty years of lifespan."

Essence Refining, Body Strengthening, Human Tribulation.

The Essence Refining stage grants a lifespan of 100 years, Body Strengthening 120 years, and passing the Human Tribulation 150 years.

Hearing this, infinite anticipation rose in Wang Kuohai's heart. He was already over forty years old.

In this era, even for martial artists, living to seventy or eighty was already considered a long life.

If he could live to a hundred or even a hundred and twenty, that would be rare throughout history.

With this technique, his family might even be able to pass down the methods of the immortal path, and perhaps one day have the chance to step into the legendary world of the Dao Lineage.

His heart pounded wildly as Wang Kuohai took the information Li Qing handed him with trembling hands.

Looking at the contents, Wang Kuohai's face immediately fell, and he sighed helplessly.

"Mr. Qin, you are truly making things difficult for me."

"Even ten-year-old versions of these five spiritual herbs are hard to come by."

"As for the hundred-year-old ones, I have only seen them at a few auctions."

"Each one is worth ten thousand taels of silver; with the financial resources of my All-Under-Heaven Escort Agency, I cannot afford to buy many."

Smiling slightly, Li Qing said, "Immortal fate is hard to come by. If it were easy to obtain, would it still be called immortal fate?"

"Brother Wang can consider it yourself. If you can find them, I will pass the technique to you."

Wang Kuohai's expression shifted uncertainly, but a hint of determination appeared in his eyes.

"I will definitely find a way to get my hands on them."

Li Qing nodded slightly, "I will stay in Jade City for a period of time. As long as I am still here, our deal remains valid."

After Li Qing and Wang Kuohai reached an agreement, he left the All-Under-Heaven Escort Agency without a sound.

Walking along the bustling main street, his gaze occasionally observed the essence permeating the air.

Almost imperceptible wisps of essence drifted out from every person, merging into the sky.

Even the stray dogs visible by the roadside emitted a very faint essence.

A trace of thin essence could also be seen from some of the large trees along the road.

Perhaps because his own essence had grown increasingly profound, Li Qing's ability to capture the essence in the air had become more and more precise.

Everything that possesses life radiates essence.

Once the essence drifts away, it does not dissipate but gathers above the city.

There should be essence gathering in the forests as well, though despite the abundance of trees, the essence they emit is too sparse.

A large tree at least several decades old emits less essence than a small child.

Moreover, the forest is vast, so if one doesn't pay attention, it is impossible to see.

The cultivation techniques of this world likely exist in three main directions.

One is human essence, one is the essence of animals and insects, and another is tree essence.

These essences must have different effects and side effects, which is what is known as alienation.

It is highly probable that these side effects arise from the nature of these essences, which ultimately clash with human essence and cause the human body to undergo mutation.

Li Qing observed as he walked, and soon he arrived at the government office.

As his gaze swept across the street where the government office was located, another official institution appeared in his line of sight.

This official institution had no plaque, only two stone lions at the main entrance and guards clad in armor.

These guards did not seem to be ordinary people; observing from afar, he discovered that their essence was contained and did not dissipate.

This was a clear characteristic of a cultivator; all the essence within their bodies was absorbed and used for their own cultivation, with almost none leaking out.

Standing in the distance, Li Qing observed carefully, Is this the Demon Extermination Hall? Even the gatekeepers are cultivators.

That mysterious Demon Extermination Captain Wen Taiquan said that the Demon Extermination Hall is backed by the Hundred Schools of Thought.

Does that mean it contains the heritage of the Hundred Schools of Thought's techniques?

I wonder what the rules are like inside.

My current situation is very troublesome.

First, I need techniques.

Second, I need Essence Stones; they are the only things that can accelerate my cultivation speed.

After the Jade Tablet's conversion, the essence converted from these Essence Stones is only about 1/10 of the original.

It must have filtered out a large amount of useless and harmful material.

The Demon Extermination Hall's primary goal is to deal with anomalies and alienated cultivators.

I can obtain a vast amount of intelligence from here.

Since cultivation sects are all integrated into the cities, the government office might be a good place to hide.

As the saying goes, it is easy to cultivate within the government; the power of a dynasty can bring countless benefits.

Many things that cannot be found outside can be obtained from within.

Based on current observations and the various contents recorded in the True Diary.

The Rogue Cultivators of this world live very miserable lives.

In those few diaries, it seems I have never seen a Rogue Cultivator above the True Method Realm.

It is highly likely that the techniques for climbing higher have been completely restricted.